Air and Space Museum at Washington DC airport

Our flight to NYC took off at 6:10am. There was a 5.5 hour stop over at Washington D.C which worked out well because the STEVEN F. UDVAR-HAZY CENTER (Air and Space museum) annexes the airport.

Took the shuttle over to the museum and headed in. Awesome history of aviation there. WWII Japanese and Nazi planes, Countless American planes, A Concorde, Space Shuttle....heaps of stuff. They also have the Enola Gay there.

That was interesting..Whilst exciting to see, I felt guilty about getting excited. I mean, that plane obliterated how many people with a nuke..

I had to bite my tongue when I saw an American idiot applauding the plane...

For your enjoyment...

Pike's Peak, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Leaving Colorado

Belated update...

We left for the Pike's Peak getting to Manitou Springs which is the little town at base. We firstly checked out the cog railway up the mountain but it was 1.5 hours until it was going to leave and a 3 hour round trip. We decided to drive it instead.

The old "G'day Mate" at the ranger station check in caught us up again as the cowboy hat, big belt buckled, Merve Hughes mustache sporting ranger proceeded to tell us that he collects military memorabilia and that he has an Aussie slouch hat....Anyway.

We drove up the mountain. We could only go as high as the 15 mile marker (not the full 19 miles) as it had snowed heavily the night before. It was freezing up there and heaps of snow was around. 

After we  passes the 12,000 feet above sea level marker we found the thin air very hard to breathe in. Sort of like..a full breath just didn't fill you up..

We also headed to the Cheyenne Mountain ZOO and checked out some unique animals we hadn't seen, Grisly Bears, Bald Eagle etc..pretty cool..

We felt we probably spent a day too long in Colorado Springs so we were happy to get to the airport to head for NYC

Day 5 – Warner Bros. Studio Tour & Santa Monica

We were determined to have a bit of a slower paced day today. We woke up late and Rhiannon jumped online looking for things to do. She suggested a tour of the Warner Bros. Studios. 

We booked tickets online for the 12:20 tour and drove down to Burbank where the studios are.

We were forced to get a Starbucks coffee (which was like drinking camel piss after he was fed asparagus).

The tour was good; we got on the cart with 11 other people. Venezuelans who can’t follow direction (I’ll get to this later) and fat American Ellen fans.

We headed around the back lot in the cart with the tour guide Victor explaining all of the sets and what shows they were used in (shows like Friends, Mike and Molly, True Blood, The mentalist, 2 and a half men etc). We also saw some cool sets that were used in classic films (East of Eden with James Dean, Batman, Some Audrey Hepburn movies, Cool hand Luke, Gremlins etc).

We got to go into a Warner Bros. Props and costume museum which was pretty awesome, had actual costumes and props from 80 years of film. Some examples: The piano played by Sam in Casablanca, Batman’s costume, Clint Eastwood’s costumes, John Wayne’s rifle, Elizabeth Taylor’s costumes etc. heaps of cool stuff).

We then got to go into a sound stage and check out the set for the show 2 Broke girls (gay). Whilst driving through the back lot the fatties yell out “There’s Ellen” Sure enough, Ellen Degeneres was riding a bike through the lot with Portia De Rossi with her

There was also a small car museum containing 2 Batmobiles (the shit batmen – George Clooney and Valerie Kilmer). It also had the General Lee from the Dukes Of Hazard, The Ford Gran Torino from the Clint Eastwood film of the same name. It also had the Harry Potter Weasley car and the bike ridden by Johnny Depp in the crap remake of Willy Wanker and the Cockolate factory.

Finally we got to go into a part of the set that was the Central Perk Cafe in the show Friends. Weird seeing the full set. Pretty good though.

Tour over.

Afterwards we checked out some guitar stores on the way to Santa Monica – They all sucked and had stuff all of what I wanted to see.

We got to Santa Monica around 4pm. Walked down the huge boulevard of stores then out to the famous pier. We walked the length of the pier. A lot of dodgy looking characters and the smell of marijuana filled the air.

I was looking over the edge of the pier when I spotted a seal frolicking below us (I don’t know if you can frolic in water but to f’kin’ bad!).

We walked around a bit more. Came across a woman with a cardboard sign telling everyone that they are sinners and god is fed up with it. I filmed it...I was happy.

We went back to the boulevard to look for some dinner. We had a crap meal at some joint (Georges Bistro). Undercooked pasta with a too watery sauce. Rhiannon had a chicken something with reconstituted mashed potato. All in all…turd burger.

We got a crepe and it got cold so BAM..back to the car and to the hotel.

Oh yeah..there was also a guy who had weird classes, a push bike and a house on his head saying “I’m not Elton John, Don’t look at me that way”

Day 4 - Disneyland

We got up early-ish and got some complimentary breakfast at the hotel (I haven’t mentioned this before). Breakfast is basically in the small foyer/check in room of the hotel. It consists of Bagels, Assorted breakfast bars, fruit, orange juice, tea and coffee.

We had the pleasure each morning of sitting in there with a bunch of other hotel guests. One in particular decided it was acceptable to snort repeatedly (like the Vietnamese do)….at the breakfast table…with his girlfriend there…I think he was Spanish or something….Anyway…

We jumped in the car and headed toward Disneyland which is in Anaheim. Around 35 minute drive south of Hollywood. Being a Sunday, the traffic was non-existent.

The Disneyland arrival was so well organised. Heaps of attendants ushering cars through the car park. $15 for the day to park. We had to catch a train thingy to Disneyland Park from the car park. The joint is massive.

It would have been probably 10:30am when we bought our tickets and headed through the gates.

Rhiannon couldn’t contain her excitement…Bowling over little kids as she ran through the gates..Nah..hehe not that bad but pretty excited.

The first impression of Disneyland is exactly what I expected it to be and exactly what Walt Disney wanted it to be if you see the movies about how he conceived the park. You hit Main Street USA and are immediately aurally beaten (in a good way) with old style Disney big band 50’s type music. There are old style popcorn vendors and immaculately maintained and designed gardens with a mass of store fronts. The whole design is so old school (apparently Walt Disney wanted it to reflect the town her grew up in) so I guess it is very 40’s/50’s looking).

Map in hand we started walking toward all of the different worlds they have (Tomorrow Land, Frontier Land, Toon Town, Fantasy Land etc). Each land/world themed from different Disney cartoons.

Everything is huge and has amazing attention to detail. Nothing at all in the park looked out of place or as though it wasn’t designed to fit. There were teams of trash ninjas that would come out every now and then with dustpans and brooms to sweep up any rubbish (re: attention to detail mentioned above, their outfits and dustpans looked as though they were from the 50’s).

We made the mistake of entering the normal line for Splash Mountain (rather than purchasing the Fast Passes for the rides). The bastards design the lines so they are deceiving. You can only see around 20 metres of a line so you think it will be fine. Then you realise that the line twists and turns INSIDE the ride for another 34663754754.43Km. So an hour later we FINALLY got onto the ride. It was pretty cool but the wait took the edge of it.

4:00pm was time for the Mickey Parade. We (along with every other patron) took a spot on the side of the main street in the park. The parade was as one would expect, floats with characters atop, loud cheesy Disney music and dancers.

Cliché Americana: The footpath of the street where the parade was run was full of people sitting down. There was a flower bed type structure running along it (about 2 metres back from the curb). So as the parade starts some people next to us stand up (naturally) and we hear in a southern drawl from a fat arse mother and daughter SITTING on the flower bed/seat thing: “Can you guys sit down? We can’t see” Rhiannon and I looked at each other and telepathically asked the same question: “Why don’t you stand up you fat arse?”

Come 7:00pm we were pretty destroyed. All the walking and shitty nutrition available at the park took its toll. We couldn’t handle any more happiest place on earth – It was at this point the kill kids and fat people place on earth. So we left.

Day 3 - Dinner and Slayer!

So we head out for dinner and decide to go onto Sunset Bvd instead of Hollywood Bvd. We picked an Italian joint called Fabiolus. So anyway, sitting there and in walks 3 guys. I have a closer look and it's fuggin Kerry King! Before I had a chance to do anything they leave without sitting down. The Italian waiter starts saying to the bar man "fucking slayer man!"

Anyway...we eat our meal and Rhi is saying "let's go try and find him". So we finish and leave walking in the direction they headed and bam. Sitting out the front next door is Kerry King, Slayer's manager and another guy. So I have a bit of a chat, Kerry tells me Australia is one of his favorite places yadda yadda..their manager telling me that he just got back from Australia..anyway...snapped this pic..metal!!

Day 3 - Citadel Outlets & Venice Beach

Today we drove out to Commerce (a suburb of LA) to the Citadel outlet joint...Like DFO on steroids (Maria would have lost her mind!). Walked around there looking at stuff for a few hours..we ate a Ruby's diner first up while we waited for the shops to open (Pancakes and a Coke for $10..screw you Pancake Parlour!). We have noticed here that a store may be set to open at 10:00 but they will often just open whenever they want, 10:15, 10:30 etc..


After a couple of purchases we drove across LA to Marina Del Rey and Venice Beach. This drive took a shitload of time (over an hour) in shit traffic. It gave us a good chance to see what the rest of LA is actually like. It started latino then got darker as we drove on.. A lot more homeless people and crummy looking places than in Hollywood. Think of Frankston with guns hehe...


Venice beach was packed as it was around 27 degrees today. We found a park with 40mins on the meter (score!) so bumped it up and went walking.


Venice beach is really dodgy..Lots of shifty looking characters mixed with tourists..really weird combo.
We saw the Muscle beach gym where Arnie used to train which was awesome to see. Some funny looking people around though..Case and point below...

WTF?

We ate at a joint on the beach called Venice Whaler (clever name aye?). Twas good except for screwing up my order. I eventually got my Clam Chowder in a bread titty bowl...Rhiannon had Quasedilla and chips. Again, one meal shared would have sufficed, we left what would here be a full meal.


Pretty soon the legs ran out of steam so we headed back to the hotel. Not sure what we will do for dinner but I'm sure I'll tell you all about it.


P.S

Day 2 - Hollywood Sign & Beverly Hills

A day late with this entry but ah well..
We headed out first thing in the morning to Canyon Lake Drive. This is the closest one can get to the Hollywood sign in a car. Plenty of Russian tourists for some reason..Man they take some tacky pics. How many iconic things are there in the world that you can pretend to be holding up?

The streets leading up to the sign were super narrow..I guess it's "old Hollywood" Looks very retro. How you would imaging Hollywood to have looked in the 50's. They have weird intersection signage. They have a "Stop - All Ways" sign. Basically, a cross intersection where all 4 sides stop, then you sort of edge out while looking at the other stopped cars and somehow decided that you are going. Still haven't worked it out. I just wave to everyone as I go in case I have cut them off somehow...


Afterwards we headed down to the Beverly Centre which is a shopping centre that has Macy's, Bloomingdales, Versace, D&G etc etc..all that shit.. So I followed Rhiannon around while she looked at all the stuff... She bought a bag so was pretty happy.
We learnt our lesson from day one regarding ordering food and shared a meal..The salad size was ridiculous. I don't know how people can eat that much to themselves.

Post lunch activities consisted of driving down to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Too much money here..Every second car was a Rolls Royce, Ferrari or Escalade...I even saw a Bugatti Veyron..

I can safely say.. We have not been able to find a decent coffee anywhere here, how do the celebs drink that shit and rave about it?


On the way back, we went into 2 guitar stores (Guitar Center and Sam Ash) - Both were a disapointment. Like Australia, mostly low to mid range guitars. I'll have to do some more research I think.


Just down the road from the guitar joints were the famous Whisky a Go Go & Rainbow Bar and Grill. Great to see a venue and hang out full of rock and metal history.

Being pretty tired at this point we went back to the hotel and parked the car. We walked again down Hollywood Blvd and got some pictures of the Walk Of Fame outside Grauman's and had some dinner.

 I'm bored with typing now..Dinner > Hotel > Slept

Day 1 - Hollywood

Our arrival into LA was relatively smooth. Customs here however took around an hour to process everyone before us from the flight though. Fingerprints and photo taken and questions about our stay by bored customs/immigration staff.

Picked up our car (which unfortunately ended up being a Chevy) and headed to the hotel. Right side of the road driving only took 20 minutes to get used to and the "right on red" rule was bizarre (being able to turn right through a red light).

After checking in at the Hotel Hollywood. We went for a random stroll down Hollywood Blvd. and down a part of Sunset Blvd. The sun was out and it was around 20 degrees so it was easy to walk around in.

For lunch we headed into a Popeyes chicken. It was sort of like a KFC but run by Mexicans. Not great but we had to try it.

I noticed that there aren't as many fatties here as I have been lef to expect of Americans. I also found that everyone here is quite friendly and polite, unlike the loud obnoxious Americans you tend to see travelling.

Headed to the hotel and had a nap in the afternoon. Rhiannon was super tired and my body needed a rest. Headed out again with the car and bought a T-Mobile sim card for my phone. Then we parked the car and walked from the hotel down the Hollywood Blvd again, this time down to the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater and Kodak Theater. 

Hollywood Blvd

Grauman's Chinese Theater

We had dinner at a place at the Kodak Theater called BoHo. I had an 8oz El Diablo burger and shit wasit hot..Rhiannon had pork baby back ribs..pretty good but we couldn't even finish half of the serve. One meal shared from now on.

Melbourne Airport

Breakfast of champions

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4

1:25am...First blog entry...Trying to switch my body clock for our arrival in Los Angeles. Not sure whether this was such a good idea but time will tell...